Two of the cases were HCMC locals who’d come into physical contact with some patients of the flu. The other six were returning home from infected areas overseas.

As of Friday evening, Vietnam had detected 84 cases of H1N1 infections, including 73 in the south, seven in the north and four in the central region. The first case was detected in HCMC on May 31.

Of the 84, 32 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, and no case has proved fatal so far.

The disease, also known as swine flu, has so far been reported only in people coming from abroad or locals who have had physical contact with the former.

Health officials have requested passengers arriving at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat International Airports on flights with the patients detected so far should isolate themselves and contact local health officials as soon as they develop flu symptoms.

Those in HCMC can call the city Health Department at (08) 3 930 9981.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff